Preview: Angels at Rangers

July 31, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Angels at Rangers

The Texas Rangers answered a four-game losing streak with a pair of spirited walk-off victories against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers vie for the sweep of the Angels on Wednesday when the American League West rivals wrap up their three-game set. After Geovany Soto's homer in the ninth gave Texas a 4-3 triumph in Monday's series opener, Leonys Martin played the hero one night later with a three-run shot in the 10th inning as the Rangers claimed a wild 14-11 victory.

While Texas moved within five games of division-leading Oakland, Los Angeles has dropped five in a row to careen out of contention. Former Ranger Josh Hamilton highlighted his four-RBI performance with a three-run double in the seventh inning. The 2010 AL MVP is 4-for-9 with six RBIs in the series, but he'll be getting his first look at starter Martin Perez on Wednesday.

Williams has been in a tailspin since posting his last victory June 12. The 31-year-old lost his third straight start and fell to 0-5 in his last eight outings after yielding four runs in five innings against the Athletics on Friday. Williams, who was in a relief role, struck out two in three scoreless innings against Texas on April 24.

Perez has struggled since posting his last victory July 14. The 22-year-old Venezuelan has yielded 16 runs and 21 hits in 15 innings to suffer a pair of losses and one no-decision in his last three starts. Perez permitted four homers of his six homers in that stretch.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout, who went 4-for-4 with a pair of walks Tuesday, has reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances.

2. Soto had four homers in 33 games before hitting one in each of the last two games.